3 Little Words = More Energy & Joy

I’ve been repeating a specific mantra to myself lately, especially on the days when I’m dragging or dreading the to-do list. It’s not a magic phrase, but it has been changing things for me in bigger ways than I ever expected.

“I get to.”

Three simple words that shift everything.

Not I have to.
Not I should.
Not I’ll try.
But I get to.

In coaching, I encourage phrases like ‘I will’ or ‘I am.’  Those are strong declarations, meant to build belief and direct power. But “I get to” does something different. It roots me. It moves me. And you know what? I am moving more, yes—but what surprises me most is the energy that has come with it!

I get to wake up and tend to my garden.
I get to fold laundry for a family I love.
I get to move my body, even when it feels stiff.
I get to go for a walk, open the windows, and welcome another morning.

And maybe it’s because I’ve been thinking a lot lately—about the people who don’t get to.
The ones we’ve lost.
The things that changed.
The version of life that won’t come back.

Not in a heavy, hold your breath kind of way… but in a way that invites presence, perspective, and deep appreciation.

It’s easy to forget that the “ordinary” is a gift.

That folding towels, cooking dinner, running errands, showing up to work, even starting something new…
These are all get to moments when you look at them with fresh eyes and genuine gratitude.

It doesn’t mean every day feels easy.

It doesn’t mean we ignore the grief, or the exhaustion, or the real-life overwhelm.

But it does mean we honor the sacred, everyday chance that we get to show up—to live, to love, and to keep becoming.